E-Newsletter

Now You Can Put a Plane Ticket on Layaway—Really!

12/31/2015
— By Jamie Beckman

Courtesy islandgal48/myBudgetTravel

Layaway: It's not just for retail stores anymore. Tech startup Airfordable says it has one mission: to "encourage travel" for low-income individuals and millennials with limited credit options. All users have to do is take a screenshot of the flight they want to purchase, and Airfordable will buy it for them—and hook them up with a monthly or biweekly payment plan. Put 30 percent down and make all the payments before the flight date, and the e-ticket is yours.

In some cases, the company says, it has helped users find even better prices for the flights they want. Convenience, of course, comes with a price: Airfordable charges a flat 20 percent fee for every transaction, spread out over the payment plan. But there's no interest, which, for some travelers, might be a more attractive option than using a credit card. Plus, the maximum flight price that Airfordable is willing to front is $500, so the fee won't amount to more than $100. Not cheap, but a better deal than throwing down a high-interest card if you don't intend to pay it off ASAP, and an excellent option if a credit card or personal loan is out of the question.

And if you don't make all the payments before your flight date? No ticket for you. The down payment is also non-refundable, but any payments made after that turn into Airfordable credit. (Space is limited, so click fast if you want in.)

The ultra-specific desire to help people travel was born out of experience: When company founder Ama Marfo saw a college buddy miss out on a group trip to Ghana because she lacked the financial resources to go, she was inspired to start the company. "Memories are priceless," she says, "and global enrichment is key in becoming a well-rounded person."

We at BT are all about helping people travel more, especially when cash is tight, so cheers to that!

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